Lynley Donnelly
Lynley is a senior business reporter at the Mail & Guardian. But she has covered everything from social justice to general news to parliament - with the occasional segue into fashion and arts. She keeps coming to work because she loves stories, especially the kind that help people make sense of their world.
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/ 10 March 2008

Eskom: We need to save more

While large industry has met its 10% power-reduction commitments, the rest of South Africa is lagging behind, saving less than 5% on its electricity consumption. The continued strain on the national grid has meant that there remains the threat of load-shedding for South Africans.

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/ 4 March 2008

‘Why aren’t we investing in our future?’

The government’s failure to extend the child-support grant to all vulnerable children under the age of 18 will leave about two million children without social support for the foreseeable future. Last month’s budget, which capped the age for children on the grant at 15 from January next year, was severely criticised by civil society.

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/ 29 February 2008

Many more than 6 900 jobs

The possible loss of 6 900 jobs at Gold Fields mining company will affect more than 50 000 additional South Africans, deepening the economic impact beyond the numerical cuts alone. According to research by the mineworkers’ union, NUM, each miner supports an average of between six to 10 dependants.

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/ 29 February 2008

No men, no mirrors

The bizarre exercise-cum-mating ritual that is the gym is at once demeaning and distracting. Let’s face it, finishing your 20 minutes on the treadmill is nearly impossible if you are ogling — or being ogled by — the hottie on the rowing machine, or if you are painfully aware that your behind is jiggling like James Brown.

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/ 18 February 2008

‘What the goddess has joined …’

If your religious festivals follow lunar phases and seasonal solstices, you will be happy to know that marriage under pagan rite and ritual is now a possibility for South Africans. The South African Pagan Rights Alliance (Sapra) has been designated by the department of home affairs a religious organisation under section 5 of the Civil Union Act (17 of 2006).

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/ 18 February 2008

No gas at the end of the tunnel

A winter without enough electricity looks likely. But as government proposes switching energy sources to alternative fuels, such as liquid petroleum gas (LPG), problems in pricing and supply will hamper any major roll-out of LPG for the domestic market. LPG, supplied and marketed by major gas companies can be used as an alternative fuel source to heat water and cook in the home.

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/ 1 February 2008

Shut the guzzling smelters?

In the midst of a national grid meltdownwhich closed the mining industry, BHP Billiton’s three aluminium smelters, powered entirely by Eskom, were up and running — despite being some of South Africa’s greediest energy guzzlers. And the government appears determined to press ahead with establishing another massive smelter, the Rio Tinto Alcan plant, at Coega in the Eastern Cape.